‘Twitter Taxi’ Service Lets Riders Use Social Media To Play Music

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — What’s being billed as the world’s first Twitter-based taxi service is expected to celebrate its launch Thursday in Venice Beach.

The service will feature a fully restored and customized 1922-era vintage taxi that responds to commands via Twitter hashtags, allowing partygoers to make the cab play songs from with like Lady Gaga, Sublime, Katy Perry, Daft Punk, and more.

In addition to the musical accompaniment, the Twitter Taxi will feature a lights how timed to the music it plays and generated by multi-colored light strips that cover the vehicle, according to app-based transportation company Taxi Magic.

The firm will kick off the taxi’s debut – which is being launched in partnership with Newcastle – by giving away more than $1 million in free taxi rides throughout the holiday season.

It’s the latest twist in an ongoing battle between local taxicab services and rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, which allow customers to use smartphone applications and social media to schedule pick-ups.